SUPER Surbiton caused a shock as they knocked out the favourites on the way to reaching the final.

A brilliant display saw them beat EHL Conference North champions Sutton Coldfield and tie up a date with Premier side Bowdon Hightown at Cannock on May 14.

It made for an outstanding weekend after Surbiton clinched runners-up spot in Conference East on Sunday (March 26), a superb achievement in their first season in the national competition.

Sutton Coldfield had been the ones expecting to celebrate an auspicious double given they had sewn up their league title a day earlier courtesy of a 6-1 victory over Durham University, rattling in 85 goals in 18 outings.

They had knocked out three Premier sides on the way – Cannock, Brooklands Poynton and Clifton – but the visitors struck first when Emma Rowland-Jones drag-flicked a short corner past goalkeeper Becky Batsford in only the second minute.

With such a potent attack it was inevitable Sutton Coldfield would score, Jane Sixsmith levelling in the eighth minute, but Helen Grant restored the lead two minutes before the interval.

Prolific Vicky Woolford, who had claimed 29 league goals, pegged back Surbiton a second time in the 42nd minute as she slipped a shot past Asha Tranquille-Day.

Yet the visitors, who had claimed their own notable scalp when beating Reading in the last eight, were always a danger.

They had gone close when Grant hit a post and skipper Vicky Heptonstall was denied by an excellent save.

They were to have the last word, with 13 minutes remaining, as Rowland-Jones struck again with an angled shot from the right and even the home side’s massive support could not rouse them as the Surrey side reached a national final for the first time.

Surbiton had tied up runners-up spot in Conference East a day earlier by repeating their opening day 5-1 defeat of basement team Dereham.

Although already relegated, the Norfolk side battled hard and made their guests wait 20 minutes before Kate Holmes achieved her first goal in the EHL.

Within two minutes another had arrived, Vicky Bryant credited with the strike after a defender got the final touch. Rowland-Jones made the next two, the first for Amy Bryant just before half time and then, five minutes after the interval, enabling Amy Bryant to shoot past Jess Purser.

Despite having the bulk of possession, Surbiton could not add any more goals in the final 28 minutes and Dereham at least had the compensation of scoring their final EHL goal – for the time being at least – when Kath Malvern was rewarded for her labours in defence by beating Dulcie Gray from the spot.

South League champions 12 months ago, the Sugden Road side can reflect on a marvellous campaign – and they’re not done yet.